More than 3,600 people gathered in Virginia Park over the weekend of 27–28 June for the borough’s biggest girls’ football festival, hosted by Caerphilly Castle Ladies and Girls FC.
Growth of grassroots girls’ football
The two-day event brought together clubs from across south Wales and featured teams from under-6s through to under-14s. Organisers staged hundreds of matches across morning and afternoon sessions, offering playing time to participants of varied ages and abilities.
The scale of the festival underlines the rapid expansion of girls’ football locally since the tournament was re-established four years ago. What began as a modest event has developed into one of the largest women’s and girls’ grassroots competitions in the region.
Community, fundraising and family atmosphere
Alongside the football, the festival included family-friendly attractions such as a BBQ, hot drinks, sweet stalls and a bouncy castle. The club also used the event to support a local charity: 15% of team entry fees were donated to Latch, the children’s cancer support charity based at the Children’s Hospital for Wales.
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Teams | 122 |
| Players | 1,200+ |
| Parents and supporters | ~2,400 |
| Amount raised for Latch | £600+ |
The club reported that the contributions raised more than £600 for Latch, reinforcing the festival’s role as both a sporting occasion and a community fundraiser.
“When we relaunched the event four years ago, we had around 30 teams taking part, so seeing how much it has grown is something we’re incredibly proud of,”
The comment above, from an event organiser and coach at Caerphilly Castle Ladies and Girls, captured the sense of achievement felt by volunteers and families. Another volunteer involved in refereeing noted the quality of the event’s organisation and the family element added when a son joined his father on the pitch for the first time.
What this means for local sport
For clubs, the festival provided valuable match experience and an opportunity to introduce new players to competitive football in a supportive environment. For parents and volunteers, the scale of attendance highlighted the appetite for more opportunities for girls’ sport in the borough.
Organisers say the event will continue to be developed in future years to accommodate demand and to build on the charitable aspect that has become integral to the festival.
- 122 teams took part across two days
- Players ranged from under-6 to under-14
- Event raised in excess of £600 for Latch
Local clubs and families in Caerphilly now face the task of sustaining momentum from this successful weekend, ensuring pathways for girls to progress in the game while maintaining the community spirit that made the festival a success.
